Originally published in London 1907 by MacMillan & Co., Ltd., this first edition of the Highways and Byways in Kent, is republished here in fully-searchable digital format. Macmillan began publishing the Highways & Byways series in 1899 and by 1909 had completed almost twenty publications in the series, which extended across the length and breadth of England, Scotland and Wales, with one publication on Normandy and and another on Ireland. This highly popular series continued until the beginning of the Second World War. In May 2009 Pan Macmillan reissued a one-volume collection of the best of the Highways and Byways series offering a glimpse of the very best of Britain.

The original publication of the Highways and Byways in Kent contains more than 440 printed pages, including a map of Kent, but alas not the route of the author, Walter Jerrold, who chose to take many short trips from a central point, and almost 150 pen and ink illustrations by Hugh Thomson, providing as with all of the Highways and Byways series a wonderful mix of topography, local history and folklore, which perhaps more than ever allows the reader to rediscover parts of Britain that have long disappeared under a morass of concrete.

Walter Jerrold undertook 21 'tours' on which he reported in the Highways and Byways in Kent and these included the following: Canterbury, its Cathedral, city and surrounds; the Isle of Thanet; Sandwich, Deal and the Goodwins; Dover and its neighbourhood; Folkstone and Hythe; Romney Marsh; around Ashford; Cranbrooke and the 'Hursts'; Maidstone and its neighbourhood; Tonbridge and 'the Wells'; Penshurst; Westerham and Sevonaks; Otford and 'the Hams'; Dartford and Gravesend; Cobham, Rochester and the Thames Marshes; Sittingbourne, Faversham and Sheppey and finally Kent near London.

Much of the charm a vigour of the Highways and Byways series which has stood the test of time is down to the travellers and in the case of Kent this is no exception. Walter Jerrold (1865-1929) was born in Liverpool, but spent most of his life in London. Beginning life as a clerk in a newspaper counting house, he became deputy editor of the Observer newspaper and acted as editor for many classics of literature for the newly-founded Everyman's Library. He also wrote many biographies, including those on Charles Lamb and Thomas Hunt and under the pseudonym Walter Copeland published the best-known collection of nursery rhymes of the early 20th century in addition to writing a number of works for Macmillan's Highways and Byways series. The Highways and Byways in Kent are replete with more than 150 pen and ink sketches by Hugh Thomson. Born in Coleraine in 1860, by 1883 Thomson had moved to London and had begun working as the illustrator for Macmillan. Amongst his many credits are the illustrations for more than 70 novels, including those of Jane Austen and by the time he drew the illustrations for the Highways and Byways in Kent Thomson was the most popular and successful illustrator of his time. Much of Thomson's work was purchased by Derry City Council and when originals of his pen and ink sketches come up for sale they command high prices and for this reason alone the many books in the Highways and Byways series illustrated by Thomson - which are the majority - are well worth purchasing and this edition for Kent is no exception.

This title is a DOWNLOAD. Please click the link on the receipt to initiate the download. If you would prefer a version on CD-ROM to be posted to you, please select the option below. It will cost an additional 6.00 (ex VAT) which includes all postage charges.

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The original Gentleman's Magazine contained articles on a vast array of subjects, including lots of wonderful topographical pieces.

In 1891 George Gomme republished all of these topograhical articles but edited and indexed them into county specific order. Each of Gomme's works contains between two and four separate counties, except for the London volumes.

An absolute goldmine of information about the county, its people and its places.

SEE BELOW FOR A VERY SPECIAL OFFER FOR ALL OF THE VOLUMES.

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This is one of the most important resources that we have seen, and one that should be of great interest to all family historians. Published in 1772 it was the handbook of the duties and responsibilities of the Parish Officer.

It includes the duties of the overseers of the poor, the power in relieving, employing and settling, etc. of poor persons; the laws relating to the poor, and settlements, and the statutes concerning masters and servants. The right of Settlement was something that was of great concern to all of our ancestors. Basically, to be able to have right of settlement in a parish, one had to be born there, married there or serving an apprenticeship there. Proof was all-important, especially if a person became destitute and needed support from the parish. Parish officers would have people literally evicted and transported to another parish under such circumstances. What happened about bastardy? What obligations does an apprentice have to his master and vice-versa? This book describes it all, together with the supporting laws.

Other sections of the book include the authority and duty of constables, tithingmen, etc.; churchwardens, how they should be chosen, their duties, church accounts, repairing of churches, etc. There are some very interesting punishments for not attending church and keeping to the rules! There is a section on surveying the highways, Scavengers, methods of taxation of the highways, and laws. And finally, the duties and powers of Watchmen.

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Often referred to as simply 'Hasted's Kent' this is a mammoth set of twelve volumes which describes every aspect of the history and topography of the county in minute detail using almost three million words!

Despite being over two hundred years old this work has never been bettered and it remains a standard reference work for all historians and genealogists with an interest in the county.

Original copies are incredibly rare, when they do become available they always change hands for thousands of pounds. They are so rare and valuable that some of the few libraries which have a copy will only permit limited acess to them, so this is an excellent opportunity to own them on CD for use in your own home.

IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT THE ORIGINAL BOOKS CONTAINED 35 MAPS OF THE KENT HUNDREDS. THESE MAPS WERE SADLY MISSING FROM THE SET OF BOOK WHICH WERE LOANED TO US AND ARE THEREFORE NOT INCLUDED ON THE CD.

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The full set of this incredibly rare and expensive set of books. This is probably one of the most useful London history books ever written and has been an invaluable reference tool for generations of eminent London historians.

Superb historical account of towns, villages and hamlets within twelve miles of the capital with numerous references to family names, extract from registers and dozens of beautifull illustrations. Each volume carries its own excellent index.

Originally published in 1791, this set has been bound into six books with the contents as follows:

Volume one - part one: The county of Surrey.

Volume one - part two: The counties of Kent, Essex and Herts.

Volume two - part one: The county of Middlesex. Acton - Heston.

Volume two - part two: The county of Middlesex. Hornsey - Wilsdon.

Volume three: Those parishes in the county of Middlesex which are not described in The Environs of London.

Volume four: The counties of Herts, Essex and Kent.

We are extremely grateful to The Barnet Archives for the kind loan of this wonderful set of books.

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Incredibly detailed accounts of the Godinton estate, owned by the Toke family and situated just to the west of Ashford.

Successive generations of the Toke family recorded in minute detail the daily accounts of their farming business, showing the names of all of their labourers and farm-hands and how much each was paid and for what type of work. It also shows details of every expenditure and income, such as rents, taxes, sales of produce and purchase of equipment and provisions.

From a historical point of view it is also very interesting to see that the Civil War appears to have had little impact on the general running of the estate, other than an enormous increase in land taxes.

There are literally hundreds of names of ordinary working people mentioned, all of whom are very easy to find due to the excellent index. The book also contains some very good maps and plans of the estate plus a full pedigree chart of the Toke family.

Kindly loaned to the Project by Reading University Library.

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The landing of Augustine, The Murder of Becket, Edward The Black Prince, Becket's Shrine by Arthur P Stanley with illustrations. 3rd edition. Published in London by John Murray in 1857. 13 cms x 19 1/2 cms. Title page with b/w illustration opposite "The Transept of the Martyrdom, Canterbury Cathedral". Full contents list.

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